Respect for Marriage Act: House passes landmark bill to protect same-sex and interracial marriage

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Outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called it an "emotional moment" before hitting the gavel several times following the final votes approving the legislation. She paused and seemed to have choked up before her final declaration of the bill as she proceeded to say "I was emotional, I'm sorry," reports the Daily Mail.

MEAWW previously reported about the prior vote for the legislation in July 2022 that yielded results of 267-157 votes which is slightly more than the final votes of 258-169 of the House of Representatives. The Senate approval was given in November 2022 with a 61-63 vote where 12 GOP members supported the bill by joining with the 49 Democrats.

To pass the bill, only 39 Republican members in the lower chamber joined to vote with 219 Democrats. The Daily Mail reports that one representative from the Republicans voted 'present' conveying that they choose not to declare a 'yes' or 'no' to the legislation whereas 'no votes' was marked for four members.

In 2015 and 1967, the Supreme Court legalized same-sex and interracial marriage respectively. However, following the concern over the court's reversal of its own order as seen in the abortion rights legalities nationwide in June 2022 that overturned the Roe v, Wade decision, the bill for the Respect for Marriage Act legislation was drafted, according to the New York Post.

The Speaker spoke about the decision that has led to the passing of the Respect for Marriage Act legislation saying "Since the Supreme Court’s monstrous decision overturning Roe v. Wade, right-wing forces have set their sights on this basic personal freedom.”

According to the New York Post, Pelosi said, “The Respect for Marriage Act will help prevent right-wing extremists from upending the lives of loving couples, traumatizing kids across the country and turning back the clock on hard-won progress.” The Speaker added further saying that “it tears the bigoted, unconstitutional Defense of Marriage off the books for good.”